Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) Page 24

  “That’s because the black widow feels terrible—being responsible for her father’s death and all…” I gasp. Onnet’s words hit me stiffly on my chest.

  “You think…” my voice breaks. The boys glare at Onnet. Ikumus smacks him on the back of his head. “They want you in rank highest because you are rare and powerful. Don’t listen to this moron.” It’s the first nice thing Ikumus has ever said to me…period. “Well, I’m relief Judyala is in a good rank. If not, I was going to have to give you my ticket and well…that was going to be hard.” Ramuso says hugging his ticket. I grimace. “Give?”

  “Yes, three people of any high rank are allowed to exchange, in better words sacrifice their golden ticket by changing the ticket with a lower rank apprentice. If allowed by the order room lady. This never happens. Nobody in twenty years has given their ticket to another.” Osys says. I pant.

  “And you were willing to give me your ticket,” I sentimentally say to Ramuso.

  “It was my idea. I was going to sacrifice my ticket to you!” Onnet snaps. Ikumus and Corr laugh. “You piece a shit. Stop lying, you were the first one to hide because you were afraid of seeing her…” Ikumus reproaches, and I can’t help but laugh. Surely, it sounds like Onnet. “He-he-he…w-we we’re all going to give…offer you…yeah…” Onnet says anxiously. I mushily smile. This is the time when my feminine sentiments kick in. Really, I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I have the kindest friends in all humanity, what else could I want…oh yes…Khysso’s lips.

  The castle is in its rarest silence, as I celebrate my friends’ good rank; others cry their eyes out, because at last, it is war and many will die. The hour gets closer, and the suns are fading. An hourglass appears in my room after my hot bath. Once the sand dies out, we have to take our paths to one of the four portals that would lead us to our destination. On my bed lays a golden cloak. It’s a cloak sent from the leaders, for all rank highest to wear. The cloaks distinguish the ranks and can’t be removed once worn. Rank highest wears a golden cloak. Rank sway wears a mustard color with black Triquetra symbols. Rank amid wears a black cloak, and lastly, rank lowest, wears nothing.

  I’m saddened by the quantity of people who wear no cloak. As I walk the hallways, many girls and boys say farewell with tears in their eyes. I walk to the mealroom to enjoy one last meal with my companions. Eyes dive in on me as I stroll down the halls. I can hear them questioning my cloak, “why does she gets to wear a golden hood? Unfairness,” I hear irritably whispers. Their staring makes me feel ashamed of my position. I walk faster. My legs stop moving as a familiar archer crosses my path without saying a word. She’s in a trance, and wears no cloak.

  I follow her into a meadow. I call her name many times, but she’s in a daze.

  “Azania!” I shout right behind her. Finally, she turns to meet with me. Her eyes are gloomy. She has the saddest gaze. A stare that wrinkles the hair on my skin,

  “Hey. I have been calling you forever. Where is your cloak?” I automatically assume she’s in a good rank. Azania awkwardly smiles, but even though she tries, she can’t hide the tenderness. “I do not have one. I’m a rank lowest archer,” I raise my eyebrows. Her words knock my heart down.

  “What!” I say breathless.

  “I’m not a great healer. I heal trees and growth of nature, and here that is not important. So I have been chosen to fight on the field,” she says it so calm it gets me sick to my stomach. She doesn’t seem afraid. “How can you fight? You've never taken a fighting lesson. Your lessons are meditation. They can’t do this to you. They can’t.” I argue. She lifts her bow, showing me her ally.

  “I’m an alright archer. Not the best. It’s not a problem really,” her tone is dull. I shake my head in dismay. She’s not capable of surviving. She’s too sweet. Her heart is pure, damn it. She's too young. No…I can’t let this happen. “Come with me,” I take her by the wrist and pull her with me. She struggles, and tries to tug her way out, but she’s delicate. I can easily drag her. “Where are you taking me?” She demands for an answer, but I say nothing. I go in a red door that leads us straight to the order room.

  “What are we doing here?” She speaks in her sweet tone. I force her to the counter. I take my ticket from my trouser-pocket and slam it on the table.

  “Reggia, Reggia!!” I shout. The chandelier shakes— a popping sound brings out many feathers, between the white feathers appears Reggia. She looks flawless in a white gown, but wears a golden cloak on top. She too is going to join us. It’s obvious; nobody is safe from the war. “Who the hell are you and why are you pestering me?” She hisses. I show her my ticket. “Change it, give her my rank,” Reggia’s eyes lift. She scoffs, staring at me in dismay. “What!” she finally blurts baffled.

  “You heard me. Give her my ticket. It’s a regulation, unless three people already decided this, right?” I snarl at her.

  “Are you mad, you cannot do that,” Azania jerks away from me. “I am an elf whose best quality is healing trees. You are a sorcerer who can conjure elements, and can be used for this world’s freedom. I’m nobody. You are somebody.” She sobs, tears rushing down her cheeks. “You are someone. Why are you unimportant, because the leaders say so? Because you can’t use your powers to kill others. Azania, you have a beautiful talent. You can make a dead flower smile and one day... your skills will be what this world needs. So please, let me do this. I’m strong. I can fight. I can survive. Please,” I say, taking her hands. Azania sobs. She shakes her head in panic. “Do it!” I command Reggia. She sighs carelessly.

  “I don’t think you can. You have a golden cape. Instructors cannot exchange…unless…” she pulls out a book from the center of the counter. She places a hand over the book. The pages magically move, then in a haste it stops. She carefully revises a page with a hand on her chin.

  “I’m not going to do it,” Azania cries.

  “You will,” I assure her. I look back at Reggia, “so…”

  “It says any apprentice below amid rank cannot exchange. But any other apprentice can sacrifice it to a lower rank if three people have not already done so. Nobody really does this. This rule was just input to torture the low-rank’s soul. Really, what a foolish idea, any—”

  “Is it possible?” I cut in. She lazily sighs.

  “Why not, it doesn’t say you can’t. It’s not my problem if it’s not in the rule book.” I sigh in relief. Saved by the laziness of the order room lady.

  “Great, then do it.”

  “I…I can’t do it without her consent, and her ticket.”

  “No, I won’t do it,” Azania cries. I heatedly search her pocket. I take out a folded ticket and slam it on the counter. “You’ll agree or I swear I will hit you so hard you won’t make it alive!” I threaten, and I’ve never been so serious in my life. Azania’s eyes widen. She gulps and nods. We magically sign the ticket with our fingers. Abruptly, the names on the ticket changes and the cloak I wear transfers to Azania. She takes a good look at herself, and falls on her knees, whimpering a drastic way. I embrace her. I love her kindness. She’s a friend, my friend, and now I know I did the right thing by sacrificing my ticket.

  I lost my appetite due to Azania's tears. I can’t confront my friends. If they know that I changed my rank, they would give me their own, and I can’t do that. I love them all too much. I know in me; I can do this…I hope. “Judyala,” my heart jumps out of my chest. I carefully turn back; it’s Khysso, wearing his golden hood. I blush to his presence, and my sentiments twirl uncontrollably.

  “Where is your hood?” He questions.

  “I-I forgot it,” I hope that sounds believable. He stares at me in a stupor.

  “It is almost time, you should go get it,” oh-no, he wants to walk me.

  “Yes, I-I’ll go do that,” I take a step forward, about to climb the stairs.

  “Wait…” he calls. Oh crap, he knows I’m lying. I meet with him, giving him all my attention. He walks closer, racing my pulse. “About last night… you
are an apprentice, and I’m an instructor. It will always be that way, and nothing has changed.” His words are cruel. I strain a smile. My heart falls into distress. I can’t speak because I know my voice will crack. It’s not only his rejection that breaks me, but the fact I might never see him again. I dash away from him. I’m confused by his rejection. Long last, nothing matters, most likely I’m not going to make it back.

  I discreetly head to the north of the castle where the lowest warriors linger. It is there the portal to the dangerous fields awaits us to take us to our destination. I tactfully walk the halls, fearing to be caught. Yet, penetrated in my mind are Khysso’s painful words. Who gets him! Last night he said he wanted me, now he is pushing me away. Seriously, this boy thing is too complicated. “Judyala!” my fear catches up to me. You should have worn a bonnet. I twirl to meet with him. I force a smile. He stares bewilder by me. “Where are you going? Come on, it’s almost time. Where is your cloak?” I press my lips together.

  “I-in my room, I was…… going to… say my farewell to… Azania first, then I’ll go back and get it.” I hesitated too much, he's going to notice. Ooh- please, who am I kidding, it’s Ramuso. “Oh, alright,” he walks towards me. “You want me to go with you.” I shake my head. “Nooo, it’s a girl thing,” he pushes his lip outwards, he's anxious. “Then, this is farewell for us, eh,” I nod, “I know you’re protected with the instructors and all, but in case it gets too risky for me and the plans deranged, I want to say…eh…” he looks at his feet. “You are my…” he garbles something impossible to understand. “Say what?” I grimace. Again, he bows down his head, and mumbles words. I shake my head. “Stop mumbling. I don’t understand you!”

  “I said you’re my best friend damn it!” he snaps, grasping my attention. I gasp, taken aback by his confession. I can feel my eyes are burning. I’m going to break apart in front of him, and I can’t do that for it will instantly tell the truth. I run to him, and wrap my arms around his skinny neck. “You’re my best friend too.” I whisper somewhere near his ears. He wraps his hands around me. I’m overjoyed with our friendship—parting from him, I can’t help but muffle a cry.

  The amount of people in the lowest rank is such a large amount that we have three portals and three lines for the gateways. I notice a lot of the warriors are humans, some low rank sorcerers, wizards and a few healers, which also are archers. The line moves fast. A girl beside me cries, scaring the rest. She's a little younger than me, her tears touch all the other young ones, and I can’t help but feel sentimental myself. I reach the mentor before the entry, it’s my turn.

  “Ticket,” he says. I give it to him. “Weapon of choice?”

  “Sword…please,” my voice wobbles. He marks the ticket with a silver stamp. It magically transforms itself into a sword. He hands me the sword. “Good luck,” it sounds as he means it. I take a deep breath, and enter the blue twirling portal. The heat that my body consumes rapidly tells me I’m no longer in Doomsvell territory. I open my eyes and look all ways. I’m now in a deserted field with many hills. Hundreds of warriors surround me, lifting their weapons above their heads. I look up at the dusky-sky. The orangey haze takes over our sight, but from it, thousands of arclaws rain down, as others fly above us bringing us fright. The arclaws quickly outnumber us. I hear a voracious bellow,

  “warriors, it is time ….KILL!!”

  -24-

  Territory

  There’s no hesitation. There’s no fear to those who know what’s coming to them. Standing in battle is a crime, fighting to save one’s life is the only objective. I’m push and shove by the many running warriors. I fall to the ground, and observe how I’m left behind. The warriors’ concern is to shed the blood of the arclaws. I wonder how this is not frightening to them. From my isolated spot I see many sorcerers using their magic against the arclaws, their loud powers blowing up in the sky, bringing down many of the arclaws. It is for that reason the arclaws growl voraciously, and aim to kill the powerful ones first.

  The healers keep their distance from the arclaws, standing behind the fighters, waiting to assist the wounded. It’s the duty of the sorcerers and warriors to protect the ones that can take pain away. Because of their healing gift, they too are in the arclaws list of death. Some of the healers I recognize from a few classes, some girls are very good curers yet they’re sent to the lowest rank to assist the warriors, other girls are barely good, more likely as weak as Azania, but good archers. The better archers stand on the high hills above us, in a long line of hundreds, striking their arrows to the flying arclaws.

  I stare petrify as a female arclaw takes an elf-archer from the hill with her claws, and drops her to the land. I run to the girl. I need to stand by her—a male arclaw reaches her first from her rear. “Behind you!” I shout but it’s too late, he penetrates his long claws on her back. I halt in panic. The claws stick out from her chest. I gasp in tears. “Nooo!” I scream. It hits me like a dropping hook. This is war, and I have to fight until death. I have to protect my comrades. I furiously run to the arclaw and use a gravity that rushes him through the air. He hits the ground. I throw myself to the ground, where the girl lies, and place my shaking hands above her bleeding chest, but death was instant.

  My chin shivers, nobody has ever died near me before. I softly close the dead girl’s open eyes. “Rest in peace,” I whisper, a growling from behind grabs my attention. I gnash my teeth. I'm inflamed by the coldness of the arclaw. He killed a girl who’s no older than my little brother.

  “You want some of me, fine,” I reach out a hand, enforcing down from the sky a lightning that strikes the arclaw on the chest, instantly putting him down. A shriek hurts my ears; above me is a flying arclaw, by her grieving I know who she is, the partner. I pull out my sword, and slash my sword in the air, preventing her claws from taking me. Again, she shrieks, only this time she creates turbulence on the earth. I lose my balance, and fall on my rear. She steps on ground and rushes to me, but I had enough of her. I lift my hand, thinking of something critical to hit her with, when a comrade takes her from behind, and stabs her on the chest. The arclaw falls. She cries, and he stabs again. I watch how the arclaw moans, and lightly falls to the ground in a hunting severe silence. He lifts his sword again, about to stab her once more.

  “Enough! she’s dead!” as much I dislike the enemy, I can’t help but to hurt. He’s being malicious. The man looks down at me.

  “Get up, hurry, go hide. I’ll fight them,” he commands. I dislike his mannish tone. I grimace. Why would I hide? Does he think I’m a healer? I stand. We are encircled by two male arclaws. I wave my hand, creating rows of fires that abruptly catch their feet on fire, but unusually they consume the fire, reflecting it back to us. We dodge the fire cannon by squatting down.

  “You’re a sorceress, outstanding!” the cool man shouts, and runs to fight the monsters. An arclaw uses his mind abilities and sends a wind out, striking the man and sending him flying through the air. I point at the man, stopping him from hitting ground. I glide him down. The arclaws growl at me, stumping my way. They’re not happy I’m a sorcerer. I glimpse at the sky, obscurity approaches us and the weather is chilling. This means the instructors are combining their powers to cool off the weather to weaken them, but the cold power isn’t powerful enough to stop them from killing. Of course, no wonder they consumed my fire. The heat is their strength. Cold environment weakens them. Khysso’s and Casandree’s classes really did pay off. I bite my lips, an idea blooms in me. I run from the arclaws whom instantly chase me. Fortunately, they’re heavy body makes them slow. They use fire against me, but I dodge it by sliding and twirling on the ground. I reach the man,

  “I need to be protected! I need more warriors,” I shout handing him a hand. He scowls, grasps my hand and gets up. “What do you mean?” He asks as we run from the arclaws. Other warriors intervene protecting us from the arclaws that follow us. “I need time to concentrate. I want to use a power that will wipe them out, but it will take a lo
t of energy,” I yell breathless, reaching a secure corner.

  He nods.

  “Stay here, I’ll get more warriors to protect you,” he says. He pulls out his two swords and runs to fight two arclaws. The man is extremely skilled. He’s a man on his late twenties with more experience than any kcowl or ribbon member.

  I’m ready to do my plan. Although it was reminded a thousand times by all instructors not to overuse magic, I think it is the best thing to do, even if it means dying. I can’t let any more children die in war. I can’t, not after seeing that poor girl. I close my eyes and breathe in and out thoroughly. I focus on the energy of my body, starting from my stomach, grounding myself to the earth. Then, in a gentle rush, I push that energy out, sending to the sky all of my life force.

  “Forces of the skies, freeze life, gods of glaze, bring me ice. Ictus- glacialis!” the skies in our region open up. A powerful wind blows—frosty balls fall from the sky. With my powers and the instructors spell, my effort begins to show. Flying arclaws fall, and the ones walking the ground slowdown, making the war easier to all of my comrades— I don’t stop, not until I send all my force. My head buzzes, and my skin crawls with a prickling sensation. My crucial discomfort and shaky knees tells me I have to stop. But not yet, a little more, I need to bring all the female arclaws down. I overlook the dizziness. Nothing will stop me from ending this. “Watch out!” The bawling of a man makes me lose concentration. An enormous arclaw strikes me on my arm. I hit a rock on the ground, the sound of my bones crushing thumps on my head. On the ground I gasp for air, digging my nails to the soil. With the loss of energy and his brutal attack, I know I am done. I can't fight. Warriors around me fight to protect me, but this arclaw is stronger, and with one forceful power he turns them all into ashes. I try to get up, but I crash back. He walks to me. Oh-goodness, he's going to squash me with his feet. He picks me up and sets me between his inner arm and ribcage. I don’t understand why he holds me. Why not kill me?